A Card With A Story

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Posted By: Robert Dixon

I have a few cards of which every time I look at it I think of a story that I've read. So I thought that I would share one.

On March 14, 1914 the New York Giants were playing an exhibition game against the Dallas Giants of the Texas League. They played these exhibition games every year, and New York always won. But on this day, with Christy Matthewson pitching for the New York club, Harry Storch hit an RBI triple in the first inning to give the Dallas club a lead that they would never lose. They went on to win 4-0. I bet that was a thrill for all of the Dallas players and fans.

Here is a link to the New York Times coveragehttp://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=950CE7DC163AE633A25756C1A9659C946596D 6CF

Anyway, every time I look at my Harry Storch card I think of that game.

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Do you guys have any similar cards/stories?

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Posted By: Todd

He once struck out Ty Cobb three times in one game in 1913.

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Posted By: Bill Stone

Thanks for sharing the article --the only other player's name listed on the Dallas team that looked familar was Tullos--a Waco player by the name of Tullas was on a T-210 card --any chance it was the same one? I love the reporting that Donlin was "put out on the old hidden ball trick" !!.

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Posted By: Robert Dixon

Les Tullos did play for Waco in 1910. He played for Dallas from 1907-1909 and again from 1911-1914. He also played for Houston, San Antonio, and Shreeveport (all of the Texas League).

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Posted By: Bill Stone

Thanks Robert --The Sports Collectors Bible shows the spelling on the T210 Waco as Tullas. Maybe someone who has this card could post it --please? I found it amusing that even by 1914 the hidden ball trick was already an old trick !

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

1916 Zeenut George 'Chief' Johnson

Johnson from Winnebago, Nebraska attended the Carlisle School and had a colorful professional baseball career that started in 1907 with the barnstorming Nebraska Indians

Johnson is third from left standing in the back row


His association with Guy Green the owner of the Nebraska Indians led to his minor league career start with the Lincoln Railsplitters which were also owned by Green

Johnson is seated on the ground right behind the mascot


Johnson later moved on to the Major Leagues with the Cincinnati Reds and made one appearance before jumping to the Federal League. He was the starting pitcher for Kansas City in the very first game ever played at Wrigley (Weeghman)...in the second inning of that game he was served papers by the Reds and was not allowed to pitch until the injunction was finally lifted later in the year. Following his career in the Federal League he moved on to the PCL. After a few years there he ended his professional career and went back to barnstorming...all the while he was also selling Native American herbal medicines on the side. He attended a medicine show in Des Moines, IA in 1921 and got into an altercation at a craps game that left him dead at the age of 36. He was shot and killed and murder charges were brought but later reduced because the defendants claimed Johnson was drunk and out of control.

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Posted By: Robert Dixon

I did some checking and you're right. The T210 card says "Tullas". However, there was no player by that name in the Texas League at the time, so I think it's just an spelling error.



It's always a little tough to read the names on these scans, but this is the picture from the Old Cardboard website.

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Posted By: ErikV

I think of this article every time I see this card.
It's a long read, but well worth it.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/sacrifice.html

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Posted By: Bob

Erik- Thanks for the link and the great story. I knew about Grant's death but not about the many interesting (and tragic) things which happened in his life. My grandfather was there also in the Argonne but never discussed anything which happened over there, when he returned, despite being decorated for bravery. He was a hero and so was Eddie Grant.
tbob